obligatory first run pic

[jallen013]

got my meat machine up and running for a test run this afternoon. thanks to everyone here for build info and to big ed for the firebox! the maverick should be here mid-week, driving up to conroe next weekend for some post oak and pecan wood, and then i'll be ready to cook.

[Big Ed]

Looks great, ready for some food pics!!

[ChileFarmer]

Looking good, watching for smoke. CF

[jallen013]

last weekend was just a "heat test" of sorts. finally got meat on it this weekend.

fired it up yesterday morning. used a full chimney to get it started - quickly learned that was waaaay too much. struggled getting a stable low temp for several hours. once i fineally got control of it i threw in a maple and blueberry fatty. cook temps generally ranged from 250-270*, snuck up to 290* for a short bit. pulled when sausage reached internal temp of 180* after about 1 hour 50 minutes. shut the cooker down after about 9 hours. didn't use all of the #20 of kingsford blue i loaded it with. 180* was too high for my tastes - need to pull earlier next time - tasted great, though.

got up early this morning and fired up the smoker again and dropped in a #5.5 pork shoulder. feeling hopeful.

[ChileFarmer]

Looks and sounds like your on your way to some good eats. CF

[jallen013]

done! out of the heat right about the 8 hour mark. maintained 235-270* for all but an unfortunate bit at about the 5-1/2 hour mark.